Great Gatsby and The American Dream "Throughout American history the idea of progress had persisted as a national destiny and a personal dream." In this way Ruth Sidel, author of On Her Own, simply defines "The American Dream." Throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby, the main character, Jay Gatsby, relentlessly strives to achieve this surreal and unattainable dream. The "American Dream," is full of hope that the past can be left behind and that a …showed first 75 words of 917 total…

…showed last 75 words of 917 total…success. He had not only constructed a completely fresh persona for himself, but had also been extremely successful in achieving wealth and high ranking social status. In the eyes of many, Gatsby would have been considered fortunate and privileged because of his lifestyle. Yet, his life could not have been less happy. The fact that he had it all, except for the one thing that he truly wanted, drove him to misery. Bibliography Great Gatsby